The perceptions of bilingualism as a risk factor for stuttering

The purpose of this study was to examine, based on survey results of a sample of speech-language pathologists (SLPs), the degree to which a bias exists for classifying bilingualism as a risk factor for the onset and persistence of stuttering. This study also aimed to determine what if any sources (i.e. years of experience, specialization in the field of fluency, and educational history on the topics of bilingualism and stuttering) uniquely influenced SLPs' understanding of risk factors. It is hypothesized that if SLPs perceive bilingualism as an inherent risk factor, they may be more likely to falsely identify typical bilingual clients who do not present with stuttering.